Electric conductor wire connection cap



March 8, 1938. w. A. APPLEGATE RIC CONDUCTOR WIRE CONNECTION CAP Filed Oct. 8, 1955 5 A m M a Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIE Wilbert A. Applegate, San Diego, Calif.

Application October 8, 1935, Serial No. 44,044

4 Claims.

My invention relates to a connection cap for electric conductor wires, more particularly for joining electric conductor wires at their ends, and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide an insulation cap for covering and connecting the ends of electric conductor wires;

Second, to provide a device of this class which is applicable for varying size wires;

Third, to provide a device of this class which may be readily placed upon the conductor wires for connecting the same and may be readily removed when desired by disconnecting the same;

Fourth, to provide a device of this class in which the whole device is flexible and resilient, thus making it especially adaptable for varying conditions in its use;

Fifth, to provide a device of this class which will provide a very efficient contact and support for the ends of electric conducting wires;

Sixth, to provide a device of this class with an enlarged embedded loop to facilitate the release of the device from the ends of the wire; and

Seventh, to provide a device of this class which is very simple and economical to manufacture, easy to install in position on the wires, eflicient in its action, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in View as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device through the middle, though without the electric conductor wires inserted; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device with electric conductor wires inserted in position and ready for use; and Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the device shown at a position at a right angle to that of Figure 1, showing some of the parts in elevation to facilitate the illustration.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawing.

My connection can consists of a spring wire member preferably made in one piece and preferably triangular in cross section. as shown. It is formed with a loop handle portion l and then continues in a closely wound spiral portion 2, which gradually increases in diameter to point 3,

then continues in a greatly enlarged coil 4-. It will be noted that one corner of the angular portion of the wire is directed inwardly in the spiral portion between the points 2 and 3 to provide sharp engaging portions for securing and con- 5 tacting the twisted end of the conductor wire shown in Figure of the drawing. This wire consisting of the portions i, 2, 3, and 4, is moulded into a relatively soft flexible rubber covering member 5 which forms a handle portion 5a which is relatively fiat as shown best in Figure 3 of the drawing for holding the device when screwing the twisted wire ends into position, and is provided with a hub portion 51) in which the portion 4 is embedded, it being noted that the winding of the portion 4 is slightly spread so that this portion 4 is held securely in the hub portion 5b, it being noted that the hub portion 4 is entirely covered by the hub portion 51) while the portions between the points 2 and 3, is exposed at the inner surface for engagement with the twisted ends of the conducting wires as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. When it is desired torelease the device from the conducting wires, the hub portion 52) is grasped by the hand and the wire turned in the opposite direction than it is turned when inserting. This provides a torque action of the wire consisting of the portions 2, 3, and 4 and permits the ready release of the electric conductor wires. It will be noted that the cap or covering 5, being relatively soft rubber and resilient and yieldable, together with the resilient yieldable wire consisting of the portions I to 4 provides a connection cap of this class which is readily adaptable to the different shapes, forms, and twists of the ends of the wire and provided ready engaging surface for this twisted end of the wire and holding tenaciously thereto, but may be readily released by reverse twisting action of the conducting wires while grasping the hub 52) and, therefore, compressing the portions 4; and that the portion 5a, together with the loop portion I provide a substantial means for holding the device while inserting the twisted ends of the wire.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not Wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination, and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination, and arrangement substantially as setv forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric conductor wire connection cap, a spirally wound spring wire, a relatively soft rubber cap like covering in which said wire is embedded, provided with a central recess shaped to expose the inner surface of said spirally Wound wire for receiving the wires to be connected, and a fiat loop member integrally connected with the small end of said wire and the whole embedded in a relatively fiat integral portion of said covering.

2. In an electric conductor wire connection cap, a spirally wound spring wire, a relatively soft rubber cap like covering in which said wire is embedded provided with a central recess shaped to expose the inner surface of said spirally wound wire for receiving the wires to be connected, a flat loop member integrally con nected with the small end of said wire, and an enlarged coil integrally connected with the larger end of said spiral and the whole embedded in an integral portion of said covering.

3. In an electric conductor wire connection cap, a relatively soft resilient insulation cap member provided with a relatively flat handle portion at one end and a hub portion at its opposite end and with a central wire connection receiving bore, a spring wire in spiral form, embedded in the interior of said cap with its inner side exposed by said bore, and said spiral wire extended at its smaller end in loop form embedded in the relatively flat handle portion of said cap.

4:. In an electric conductor wire connection cap, a relatively soft resilient insulation cap member provided with a relatively fiat handle portion at one end and a hub portion at its opposite end and with a central wire connection receiving bore, a spring wire in spiral form, embedded in the interior of said cap with its inner side exposed by said bore, said spiral wire extended at its smaller end in loop form embedded in the relatively flat handle portion of said cap, and a greatly enlarged coil portion integrally connected with the larger end of said spiral and fully and completely embedded in the hub portion of said cap.

WILBERT A. APPLEGATE. 

